Oktoberfest, best beer, best price

Planning for Oktoberfest is not something you do on a whim at the last minute, it can take up to a year of planning in advance to get good deals and secure the best prices.

As most of us do not have indefinite leave from work, and endless budgets, or livers, most folk go for either the first or last week.

Here are some of the things I did to secure my place in the worlds largest beer-fest Oktoberfest!

Accommodation

The first thing you need to to is to organize a place to stay, regardless of your budget, it is safe to say that things fill up quickly. About six million people move into Munich to help them celebrate Oktoberfest (as if the Germans need any help!) so it gets crowded. You should secure a booking at least six to eight months before you plan to go. Munich has an accommodation to suit all budgets from backpackers to the Hilton, so jet Googling and secure a spot early.

I have stayed at the camping site in Thalkirchen and can recommend it, if camp sites and communal showers or your thing. The vibe here is fantastic as many tour groups use it as their Munich base, so the party rocks on well into the morning.

This year I am trying a central Munich hotel, so will see how that pans out. Any hotel within walking distance of a Beer Hall is OK in my books.

I found great hotels at this site, Hotels in Munich

Altstadt

Oktoberfest 2010

Getting There

Just about every airline in the world will get you to Germany without any hassle, Kayak is a good place to find flights.

Munich has good public transport and a direct train connection to the city center, so within an hour of arriving, customs permitting, you can be sipping you first brew.

Stuff to practice with

Munich

Tired of drinking?

Munich is not just about beer, there are loads of other things to keep you occupied. Munich has plenty of museums and is also the home of BMW, who have a great car museum to keep the petrol heads happy

The Deutsches Museum, is one of the largest science and technology museum in the world. On the Marienplatz, you can find great shopping and the Glockenspiel. Luckily theHofbräuhausis just around the corner if the fancy takes you.

A bike trip is a great way to see the city and Munich as more bike track than it has roads, making it a very friendly city for cyclists.

Forty minutes from tour is the Dachau concentration camp memorial, this is a place that everybody should visit at least once, as we should never forget the atrocities of the Third Reich.

Neuschwanstein Castle is a day trip from Munich. This castle was reputably the inspiration for the castle at Disneyland.

Beer Halls

If the bustle of the tents gets to much for you, Munich has thousands for beer halls the nicest resource it found for finding out more about them was the Munich Pub and Beer hall Guide

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